Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has announced that the Federal Government has approved a 50% electricity subsidy for public hospitals nationwide.
This initiative aims to significantly reduce operational costs for these facilities and alleviate the financial burden on patients.
Speaking at the National Neo-Psychiatric Hospital in Barnawa, Kaduna, Dr. Alausa highlighted the government’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure.
He also commissioned several key projects, including the Electronic Health Records system and Alternative Power Supply at the Lawal Jafaru Isah Emergency Complex, as well as the solarization project at the dialysis unit.
This project features a solar-powered borehole and a 10.2 KVA inverter with a lithium battery at the Abdulkareem Jika Yusuf COVID-19 Intervention Centre.
Dr. Alausa revealed plans to rename federal hospitals as Specialist Hospitals, a move designed to broaden healthcare service delivery and reduce the stigma often associated with psychiatric facilities.
“We are going to change the names of our Federal Hospitals to Specialist Hospitals to expand care delivery and destigmatize hospitals so that everybody can come here.
While the core services will remain psychiatric, this renaming will allow for the continuous expansion of services,” he explained.
The Minister expressed confidence in the leadership of Dr. Aishatu Yusha’u Armiyau, Chief Medical Director of the hospital, noting that the institution’s progress is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s campaign promises.
During his visit to the National Eye Care Centre, Dr. Alausa commissioned the Dr. G.O Adejor Optical Showroom and the Dr. M.B Alhassan Diagnostic and Laser Unit.
He also addressed the ongoing resident doctors’ strike, which has complicated efforts to secure the release of kidnapped doctor Ganiyat Popoola from the hospital staff quarters.
Dr. Alausa assured the hospital management that efforts are being made to ensure the doctor’s safe return.
Regarding the mass exodus of medical personnel from Nigeria, Dr. Alausa mentioned that the government is developing strategies to engage medical professionals in the Diaspora.
Despite the structural challenges inherited by the current administration, he emphasized that President Tinubu is actively working with state governments to expand Health Science Universities, aiming to increase the annual enrollment in health sciences from 24,000 to 100,000.
Earlier, Dr. Aminatu Abdulrahman, Acting Chief Medical Director of the National Eye Centre, provided an overview of the hospital’s services.
Established in 1979, the center offers specialist eye care, training, and research for Nigeria.
With 300 beds spread across 514 hectares of land, the hospital serves as a referral center for all 36 states of Nigeria, the Federal Capital Territory, and neighboring countries.
In 2023 alone, the hospital attended to approximately 53,406 outpatients and performed 4,653 surgeries, with a total staff strength of 640, comprising 369 clinical and 281 non-clinical personnel.
